Senator Cortese Newsletter: The Biggest Climate Action We Took in 2023
I'm often asked what I’m doing to address climate change. To tackle the urgent climate crisis, the Senate has taken groundbreaking action to switch our entire state to clean energy, establish California as the global capital of good-paying green energy jobs, and teach the next generation how to care for our planet.
Here are a few things my Senate colleagues and I accomplished this year:
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Required large corporations to show their carbon footprint by disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions and their financial risks from climate change. SB 253 (Wiener) and SB 261 (Stern)
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Passed the nation's first Gas Price Gouging Law to combat excessive profits and anti-competitive practices in the oil industry. SBX1-2 (Skinner)
- Secured $1.25 billion in funding for new climate and energy programs, including coastal resilience.
This year, I personally authored two bipartisan climate bills, SB 740 and SB 150, both of which are now law! My SB 150 boosts green job training, community benefits, and job standards in climate-focused infrastructure programs. By leveraging state and federal investments, we're laying the foundation for the next generation of good-paying jobs in 21st-century sustainable industries. I was proud to joint-author this bill with Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D-Los Angeles), Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), Senator Lena A. Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), and Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley).
This year I also authored SB 740, which extends skilled workforce standards to green industries. Communities are safer, more prosperous, and more equitable when green industry has a skilled and trained workforce. The Governor signed SB 740 into law!
To build climate resilience for future generations, California schools need to promote climate literacy and prepare students for eco-friendly careers. This year, I secured $3 million for The Tech Interactive, a Silicon Valley museum specializing in hands-on education covering AI, robotics, digital art, and environmental science. Field trips will integrate lessons from the "Silicon Valley Kid’s Climate Club," a program I launched in 2009 that transforms elementary students into Planet Superheroes, championing environmental protection. This new investment strengthens The Tech Interactive, offering enriching STEM experiences to youth, particularly those from underserved communities.
I am also a proud co-author and principal co-author of bills to require climate change education be taught in schools and to create a master plan for climate-resilient schools in California. Both bills, AB 285, authored by Assemblymember Luz Rivas, and SB 394, by Senator Lena A. Gonzalez, are on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, awaiting his approval.
Learn more from the “Climate Ready Schools Coalition” website: https://www.climatereadyschoolscoalition.org
Be well,
Senator Dave Cortese
Makers Market on the Row: Saturday, October 14, 11am-6pm, Santana Row: Bring your family and furry friends to Santana Row to listen to live music, shop at local shops, and enjoy food from nearby restaurants. Click here for more information.
San Jose Museum of Art is Hosting a Variety of Festivals and Events!: The San Jose Museum of Art is hosting several events for the public to enjoy in the upcoming days and weeks. Click here for event dates and times.
Bay Area Diwali Festival!: Saturday, October 14, 11am-6pm, Cupertino Memorial Park: The 20th Annual Bay Area Diwali Festival of Lights is a free public event that brings over 13,000 people to Cupertino Memorial Park. This event is a showcase of multicultural music, dance, kids play areas, workshops, food, and arts and crafts. Free for all. Click here for more information
Join a Ranger Hike at Emma Prusch Farm Park: Sunday, October 15, 12pm-1:30pm, 647 S King Road, San Jose: All Access Sports and Recreation invites you to join them on their Accessible Nature Hike at Emma Prusch Farm Park. Free for all ages, but registration is required. Click here to register, and reach out to Nika Noorishad from the City of San Jose here if you have any questions or are requesting accommodations.
Día de Los Muertos Celebration at Avenida de Altares: Saturday, October 28, 5:30-10:30pm, School of Arts and Culture: Avenida de Altares will transform La Plaza into a stunning Día de Los Muertos celebration. Enjoy the beautifully decorated altars, the intricate sugar skulls, and the mesmerizing sea of marigolds! Free for everyone. Click here for more information.
CalTRANs update: Highway 87 will be closed the weekend of October 20, 2023. These closures will commence on Friday after 9 p.m. and will conclude by 5 a.m. on the subsequent Mondays. See map:
Applications Now Open for Santa Clara County’s Childcare and Early Education Infrastructure (Expansion) Grant Program: This grant program has allocated $15 million of Federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support local childcare providers serving communities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to open, reopen, or increase the total number of affordable childcare spaces. Childcare providers eligible for infrastructure funding may include Family Child Care Home (FCCH), center-based, and other community agencies. Priority will be given to childcare providers who meet select social equity criteria to serve communities in greatest need of childcare and to reflect the geographic and cultural diversity of Santa Clara County. Click here for more information, translations of this message, and to apply.
The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters' Office is hiring for multiple positions to support the March 5, 2024, Presidential Primary Election. They encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds, and bilingual individuals. For further details and to submit your application, visit www.sccvote.org/now_hiring. Join us in making a positive impact on the community!
Below you can explore the details of my recently enacted bill to safeguard the financial future of our educators during retirement. These stories also detail my latest law to streamline the construction of affordable housing, and my ongoing initiatives to combat the harmful effects of fentanyl among our youth.
NBC Bay Area: Teacher Retirement Benefits Protection Bill Signed By Gov. Newsom
Campbell Patch: San Jose Celebrates The National Day Of Service And Remembrance
KTVU: New California Law Aims To Build Affordable Housing Faster
Politico: Fentanyl Is Killing Kids. State Lawmakers Are Searching For Answers
Mercury News: Saratoga’s College Of Adaptive Arts Earns $2.2 Million In State Funding
San Jose Spotlight: How A San Jose Senator Aims To Cut Red Tape On Affordable Housing
Melanie’s Law is named after Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who died of a fentanyl overdose.
We celebrated the legislature’s passage of my SB 10 to stop fentanyl overdoses in public schools. SB 10 focuses on preventing youth fentanyl overdoses through prevention, response, training, education, and awareness. We anticipate the Governor will sign it. Special thanks to Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen, and Elena Perez, mother of Melanie Ramos, a 15-year-old who overdosed on fentanyl and died in the bathroom of her high school in Hollywood.
Silicon Valley Education Foundation (SVEF) promotes education solutions that inspire underserved students to succeed in college and careers. It was great to be a keynote speaker at their first annual summit, celebrating 25 years of transforming education! Pictured here with Dr. Lisa Andrew, President and CEO of SVEF.
Photo Courtesy of the San Jose Fire Department
My staff and I joined 15,000 parade-goers for an amazing PRIDE parade! Everyone deserves to live an authentic life and celebrate who they are, and all our laws must reflect those rights!
At the Antique Autos event at San Jose History Park, we watched a talented crew build a Ford Model T in 15 minutes! Many thanks to Mike Hennessy and event founders Allan and Lucy Greenburg.
We had a memorable evening at the Silicon Valley Chao Chow Community Center. Pictured with Victor Duong and Saratoga Councilmember (and former mayor) Yan Zhao.
Santa Clara County
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